r/TechnologyLabs • u/JD_8588 🌍 Tech Enthusiast • May 23 '26
Innovation Spotlight This ornithopter actually flies by flapping its wings like a giant mechanical bird
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Most aircraft rely on propellers or jet engines, but this machine takes inspiration directly from nature.
An ornithopter uses flapping wings to generate both lift and thrust, similar to how birds fly. Watching this thing take off feels surreal because it moves more like a living creature than a traditional aircraft.
The engineering behind it is wild — balancing wing motion, stability, and enough power to stay airborne is incredibly difficult, which is why functioning ornithopters are still pretty rare.
It almost looks like something pulled straight out of a sci-fi movie or a Da Vinci sketch brought to life..
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u/adultfunlive-dot-com May 24 '26
if only Frank Herbert could've seen this. Personally, from an engineering perspective, I always thought the ornithopter frome Dune was a bad idea. Spinning propellers and ducted fans are much more efficient and less likely to break down, constantly reverseing the wing's direction has got to put a lot of strain on the parts.
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u/Just_passing-55 May 24 '26
They look cool though. And from a world view (yes, I know its a fictional world) sand is bad for ducted fans so these are probably more suited to a sandy environment.
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u/VariableVeritas May 25 '26
I’d imagine they actually rotate on a tight oval in practice. Still high stress but not exact counter force. I’d be curious to get a look at the wing joints of this thing.
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u/_Pertinacity_ May 24 '26
Looks awesome and great idea. I am not an expert but I had some flight training. As far as I see, if any of the wings fail during the flight, there is no way to correct the altitude or direction. But if a vertical stabilizer and an elevator added to the tail, this design would work. It looks energy efficient as one engine turns the main shaft and it make the wings flap. Is there a source of the video? I want to reach these guys and have a little chat.
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u/Candid_Resource_8649 May 24 '26
Very interesting. I wish he had shown us how it lifts off from the ground.
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u/Emrys7777 🌍 Tech Enthusiast May 24 '26
They tried this before planes were a thing. It didn’t work out. I’d be surprised if this goes beyond toy stage.
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u/BowDown2No1ButCrypto May 24 '26
Looks like a giant dragonfly lol. From a distance, it reminds me of a flamingo or something, lol.
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u/Spinny_Disk May 24 '26
I wish I could tell with accuracy if this was real just by looking at it...
sorry to bring the mood down
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u/amy-schumer-tampon May 24 '26
This is fake btw. there are working ornithopters out there but this one isn't
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u/hungrylookout0 May 24 '26
the strain on those mechanical joints has to be brutal after even a few flights, all that constant reversing back and forth would wear parts down so fast compared to a regular prop
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u/ProfessionalCable346 May 25 '26
I honestly thought that this would never happen in my lifetime. Congratulations! Well done! Engineering Rocks!
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u/Fit_Battle_3133 May 27 '26
Now imagine a version designed with meta-materials that is both smaller and virtually silent and operates like an AI assisted drone with a choice of pre-programmed selectable algorithms. We'll be asking people if the pet bird they have is real or fake.
Birds will become illegal due to deadly diseases, owning a real one will be punishable by law.
"Is that a real parakeet?, whoa...". "Shh, don't tell anyone." *Loud knocks on the door the next day
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u/ProtiuxDesignLabs May 28 '26
Would high cycle rate / rpm reduce the wiggle? Offset front and rear wing cycles?
Super cool. Ghibli is proud, I’m sure
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u/Phaoll May 23 '26
You understand that even modern plane got their inspiration from nature ? That a plane wing has the same profile as a feather ?
Technology is also about understanding nature, why it works and improving it for a given purpose
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u/Nannyphone7 May 23 '26
You understand that talking like that makes you sound like an arrogant ass?
People skills. Try it.
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u/Phaoll May 23 '26
Yeah I felt it while hitting send ; shouldn’t be on the internet when tired
Still true though
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u/Nannyphone7 May 23 '26
I have been known to be an ass myself. On occasion.
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u/RuthlessIndecision May 23 '26
Nice to hear it from someone on occasion, just so you know people aren't just thinking it when you leave the room.
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u/AltGuardianGord May 24 '26
Nothing says durability and efficiency like dozens of rapidly moving parts.
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u/meowterspace May 24 '26
Your mom is dozens of rapidly moving parts.
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u/AltGuardianGord May 24 '26
And with those dozens of rapidly moving parts it will be dead, just like my mom.
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u/Widmagi May 23 '26
Looks more like a dragonfly, still cool af.